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![6 Myths About Synthetic Turf]()
by Shelby Becker
Despite the fact that third-generation turf has been tested for over 20 years, there are still many myths about artificial turf. Many of the following myths originated in the 1960s, when the first primitive types became popular. Since then, the industry has seen rapid technological advances, backed up with scientific studies on the safety and efficacy of synthetic turf. Here are six of the most persistent myths and the truth behind the claims.
Myth 1: Turf is Only for Sports
Photo credit: aLive Coverage
Truth: Turf is used to replace natural grass in yards, pool areas, rooftop decks, commercial and event spaces, and more.
Most people first heard of artificial turf when professional sports leagues started to adopt the surface in the 1960s and 1970s. However, now that the technology behind the surface is even more advanced, artificial turf is also popular in residential and commercial spaces. More and more homeowners are turning to synthetic turf for an easy-to-maintain lawn that looks good every day of the year. Businesses are using turf in landscaping. Airports have increasingly adopted turf as a safer surface technology for safe-zone areas around runways and taxiways.
Myth 2: Turf is Bad for the Environment
Truth: Artificial grass is non-toxic, uses less water and reduces your carbon footprint.
Turf does not use herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers. Unlike traditional grass, turf uses much less water. For example, if a high school installs a 100-yard football field, it could save up to 1 million gallons of water per year just from the reduction in watering. The football field would use up to 20,000 recycled tires for infill, saving the tires from sitting in a landfill. Similarly, switching to a fake grass lawn will save the average homeowner 100,000 gallons of water each year. Synthetic turf also does not need to be mowed, reducing both noxious emissions and grass clippings. The EPA reports that a push mower emits as much pollution in one hour as 11 cars and a riding mower emits as much as 34 cars.
Myth 3: Rubber Infill is Not Safe
Truth: Rubber infill, often referred to as “crumb rubber”, is not toxic.
Crumb rubber is made from pulverized tires. When turf with rubber infill was first introduced, it was heavily scrutinized by health researchers. Hundreds of independent studies have verified that rubber infill does not pose a health risk to people or pets. Studies have focused on toxicities from possible ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact, but no links between rubber infill and cancer or disease have been found. For more information about the safety of rubber infill, visit the Synthetic Turf Council’s research page.
Myth 4: Turf Causes More Injuries
Truth: Turf actually reduces the number of impact injuries.
Studies conducted using the new generation of fake grass demonstrate that there is no greater injury risk from playing sports on synthetic surfaces. Studies from Sweden and Norway which followed players over a four to five year period found the injury rate is no greater on artificial turf. Studies conducted by soccer’s governing body, FIFA, also found little difference in the incidence, nature and cause of injuries observed in games played on turf versus games played on natural grass.
Myth 5: All Turf Looks Alike
Truth: Turf comes in many different varieties, and the quality is dependent on the manufacturer.
Artificial turf comes in a variety of styles for location, performance and budget.
Myth 6: Turf is Too Hot to Play On
Truth: Turf temperature is not too warm to play safely on.
Turf temperature is on average higher than natural grass. Watering the fields can lower the temperature by about 10 degrees Fahrenheit. While old reports suggested that field temperatures could reach 200 degrees, these reports were faulty. The most recent research on field temperatures suggests that at two feet above the surface, the average temperature differential between artificial grass and natural grass is four degrees. At five feet above the surface, the temperature difference is less than one degree. Act Global’s synthetic grass is engineered to withstand extreme temperatures, giving a playing field a lush green look year-round.
Be sure to keep up to date on all of our turf projects and more by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
by Shelby Becker
Last week we kicked off work with Vescio’s Sports to renovate the University of Kentucky’s soccer practice field, and our installation crew is doing an awesome job.
The amount of time a college athlete spends on their practice field each week is substantial. The practice field is a place of learning new moves and attempting new plays. It’s where mistakes are acceptable. At Act Global, we want athletes to have the power to make mistakes without getting injured. We believe in providing the Wildcats with a surface that has been engineered to perform with them, giving these athletes the confidence to not have to think about their safety while training.
We’re excited to have the opportunity to work with Vescio’s Sports to bring our synthetic turf to Kentucky soccer. Our base work partner has helped us lay some pristine fields for us in the past, and we know this install will be no different.
Be sure to keep up to date on this project and more by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Learn more about our Xtreme Turf line.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
![6 Myths About Synthetic Turf]()
by Shelby Becker
Since 2012, Nevada’s Bishop Gorman has dominated the high school football landscape-earning five Division 1 Championships and three National Championships. The powerhouse holds a 54-game winning streak that dates back to 2013, the same season the team debuted its new artificial turf field.
Bishop Gorman is a college preparatory academy in Las Vegas with an emphasis on religion, accountability, excellence, leadership, stewardship. Athletically, the school seeks to produce student-athletes that strive for academic achievement in the classroom, as well as the development of character, maturity and a sense of fair play in athletic competition. By viewing each student-athlete on an individual level, each player is given the best opportunity possible to strive for the highest athletic standards through the best preparation, motivation and support.
With 11 state and national championship titles in the past 10 years, the Gaels football team has risen to be one of the most prominent athletic programs in the state of Nevada. In 2012 the team made the move from AAAA to Division 1 competition, winning the title each year. This season the Gael’s will be competing for it’s possible fourth National Championship in a row and to continue its winning streak that currently ranks second in the nation in longest streaks.
Fertitta Field is the home of the Gaels football team and has been named one of the nicest high school football stadiums in the country. Since December 2012 the facility has featured a top quality synthetic turf pitch that is part of the Act Global brand, providing a safe and consistent playing surface for the team. The performance enhancing turf is the same series used by top NFL and NCAA terms, trusted for the safety and durability it lends to athletes.
Act Global is proud to work with a school that is committed to fostering the development of well rounded student athletes and can’t wait for Bishop Gorman’s 2017 season. On Friday, August 25th, the Gaels will be competing at home in a non conference game against DeMatha. The game will be televised at 9:00 PM EST on NV ESPN.
Learn how our synthetic turf is beneficial to athletes.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
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![6 Myths About Synthetic Turf]()
by Shelby Becker
The prestigious international tournament for baseball’s youth teams is currently being hosted at Ballparks of America, a facility with five fields completely outfitted with synthetic turf.
Ballparks of America is a baseball experience that allows youth players to become immersed in the Major League feel. It started 17 years ago when three dads had a vision to bring back the joy of baseball and the sense of belonging it creates for players and families. Baseball of America was created to be a destination to learn about the history of the sport and for youths to play it themselves. The campus features miniature versions of five of the most iconic stadiums across the US: the Saint Louis stadium, the Chicago field, the Boston park, the Detroit field, and the Brooklyn field. These 2/3 sized pitches were created to perfectly match the dimensions and elements that make each stadium unique. All of the stadiums are complete with the latest synthetic turf technology that allows for consistent and nonstop play throughout the summer months. This is crucial for the play-ability of this facility which has held 19 tournaments from March of this year to August.
Today is the final day of one of Ballparks of America’s most notable events- the Cal Ripken World Series. This tournament is the culmination event of the Babe Ruth League’s Cal Ripken Major/70 Tournament Trail. Throughout the past week 8 U.S Regional Champions and 8 International teams have been facing off to win the CRWS title, and tonight the two finalist teams will face off. The game will be streamed live at 6:55 (CT) on the Cal Ripken Major/70 World Series facebook page, where Atlantic Beach, FL will be competing against Japan!
We’re excited to see how these boys perform, and couldn’t be happier that this tournament is being played on our artificial grass. As a company committed to player safety, we’re honored to be the surface for which these teams play on. We wish the best of luck to both the Japan and Florida team, and would like to congratulate each of the other 14 teams for their hard work this season.
Check out Ballparks of America.
Learn more about how synthetic turf can benefit your baseball team.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
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![6 Myths About Synthetic Turf]()
by Shelby Becker
Rutherford Park is a recreational area located above the underground McTavish Reservoir of Montréal,Quebec. For years the park has been a shared asset to both the students of McGill University and the people living in the surrounding neighborhood. In an effort by City of Montréal to improve this public facility, Carpell Surfaces was contracted to supply and install a multipurpose synthetic turf pitch.
The full size multipurpose field was completed in the spring by our Canadian partner, Carpell Surfaces. We had the opportunity to provide the artificial grass pitch that features a mix of two fibers that are designed to withstand the most intense use and to be non-abrasive for player comfort. This mix of fibers, along with the Ecofill infill, creates a system that is both environmentally friendly and integrates into the natural landscape of Mount Royal Park’s surroundings. Since Carpell’s completion, McGill University students have been able to use the facility to practice soccer, rugby, lacrosse, and football. On weekends, the pitch is open to the public for practices and pick-up games.
The Mayor of Montréal Dennis Coderre commented on the benefits of having the shared synthetic turf pitch as part of the park: “We are able to find a magnificent equilibrium, where youth have access to sports”.
We want to thank Carpell Surfaces for their dedication and shared mentality to share the positive impact of sports.
Find out how artificial grass can benefit your sports facility and players.
Check out Carpell Surfaces.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
Truth: Turf comes in many different varieties, and the quality is dependent on the manufacturer.
Since 2012, Nevada’s Bishop Gorman has dominated the high school football landscape-earning five Division 1 Championships and three National Championships. The powerhouse holds a 54-game winning streak that dates back to 2013, the same season the team debuted its new artificial turf field.
Rutherford Park is a recreational area located above the underground McTavish Reservoir of Montréal,Quebec. For years the park has been a shared asset to both the students of McGill University and the people living in the surrounding neighborhood. In an effort by City of Montréal to improve this public facility, Carpell Surfaces was contracted to supply and install a multipurpose synthetic turf pitch.